'ublication: Lianhe Zaobao, p 8 late: 26 January 2012 ieadline: SMU launches new Master programme in innovation to encourage breakthrough thinking amongst management professionals

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Source: Lianhe Zaobao O Singapore Press Holdings Limited. Permission required for reproduction.

'ublication: Lianhe Zaobao, p 8 late: 26 January 2012 ieadline: SMU launches new Master programme in innovation to encourage breakthrough thinking amongst management professionals

Translation:

Now into its 12th year, the Singapore Management University (SMU) continues to grow from strength to strength with a comprehensive array of courses. And this year, it has taken the bold step to launch the new Master of Science in Innovation programme.

Developed by the Lee Kong Chian School of Business, the programme aims to promote an innovative mindset amongst senior management, professionals and policy-makers, encouraging breakthrough thinking and value creation for their respective organisations and businesses. The programme also distills two years of research on local mindsets towards entrepreneurship, providing a syllabus that is relevant and specific to Singapore and its culture.

"While Singapore may rank highly in terms of patents and research papers published, it falls some way behind other developed countries when it comes to entrepreneurship," said Dr Adel Dimian, the programme's academic director.

The entrepreneurial mindset is intimately linked to creativity. And research conducted by Lee Kong Chian School of Business showed that factors holding Singaporeans back from entrepreneurship include fear of failure, too much emphasis on key performance indicators (KPls) and a corporate culture that focuses on reported results. At the same time, Singa- pore's prosperity and low unemployment rate also contributes to the low aversion to risk.

One of Dr Dimian's key areas of research is how culture affects innovation and an entrepreneurial mindset. He believes that culture can be leveraged on to bring out the entrepre- neurial or innovation potential in anyone.

While Nanyang Technological University (NTU) was the first institution to offer a Master programme in technopreneurship and innovation back in 2002, SMU's programme offers an entirely different focus as it is based on the findings of the school's two-year research, and is developed with the aim to equip students with practical techniques in overcoming any entrepreneurship obstacles.

The programme is offered part-time across 12 months, and consists of eight modules and workshops, covering topics such as capitalising on opportunities, understanding new markets, assessing and managing risk, and breaking through conservative thinking. Students will also have the opportunity to complete an international residency at Babson College in Boston, USA.

And while most may wonder if innovation can be taught, Dr Dimian feels it can be encouraged and brought out of someone. As such, the course curriculum incorporates non- traditional elements such as workshops and special reports in lieu of classroom time, as well as inviting academics from different specialisations and research fields to co-lecture the classes.

Dr Dimian believes that having students and lecturers from a varied background helps in creating positive tension in class.

The programme has opened for applications since November 2011 and will close in April this year. Response has been encouraging so far with 40 applications received, and the course is scheduled to commence in August with its pioneer batch of 25 to 30 students.

Source: Lianhe Zaobao O Singapore Press Holdings Limited. Permission required for reproduction.